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Forms of Old Testament Literature: 1 Samuel
Author(s): Antony F. Campbell (Author)
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 1 Jun. 2003
- Language: English
- Print length: 372 pages
- ISBN-10: 0802860796
- ISBN-13: 9780802860798
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This is the finest Old Testament commentary ever to come from Australia. Normally I handle biblical commentaries like a telephone directory: I consult them as I need information. But Antony Campell's commentary on 1 Samuel is such a pleasure to read that I devoured it like a novel. Despite all that has been written recently about Samuel and David, Campbell's book ? a new highlight in the FOTL series ? contains much about both of them that is new. "
From the Back Cover
Antony Campbell's valuable form-critical analysis of 1 Samuel highlights both the literary development of the text itself and its meanings for its audience. A skilled student of the Hebrew scriptures and their ancient context, Campbell shows modern readers the process of editing and reworking that shaped 1 Samuel's final form. As Campbell's study reveals, the tensions and contradictions that exist in the present text reflect a massive change in the way of life of ancient Israel. Samuel, the first prophet, here emerges to preside over the rise of Saul, Israel's first king, to be the agent of Saul's rejection, and to anoint David as Israel's next king and the first established head of a royal dynasty. The book of 1 Samuel captures the work of God within this interplay of sociopolitical forces, and Campbell fruitfully explores the text both as a repository of traditions of great significance for Israel and as a paradigm of Israel's use of narrative for theological expression.
About the Author
Antony F. Campbell, SJ, (1934-2020) was professor of Old Testament at Jesuit Theological College, Parkville, Australia. His other books include Joshua to Chronicles: An Introduction, God First Loved Us: The Challenge of Accepting Unconditional Love, and The Whisper of Spirit: A Believable God Today.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
1 SAMUEL
The Forms of the Old Testament Literature VOLUME VIIBy ANTONY F. CAMPBELL
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Copyright © 2003 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8028-6079-8
Contents
Abbreviations and Symbols........................................................................................................................ixEditors' Foreword................................................................................................................................xiiAuthor's Preface.................................................................................................................................xvIntroduction.....................................................................................................................................1Chapter 1 The Overall Shape and Scope of 1-2 Samuel..............................................................................................23Chapter 2 The Arrival of Samuel on the National Scene (1 Sam 1–3)..........................................................................34Chapter 3 The Departure of the Ark from the National Scene (1 Sam 4–6).....................................................................60Chapter 4 The Emergence of the Monarchy: The Arrival of Saul and the New Institution of Monarchy (1 Sam 7–12)..............................85Chapter 5 The Emergence of the Monarchy: The Dismissal of Saul and the Beginning of David's Arrival (1 Sam 13:1–16:13).....................134Chapter 6 David's Emergence in Israel (1 Sam 16:14–18:16)..................................................................................167Chapter 7 Veiled Conflict at the Court (1 Sam 18:17–21:1)..................................................................................194Chapter 8 Open Rupture between David and Saul (1 Sam 21:2–27:12)...........................................................................220Chapter 9 The Ultimate Failure of Saul (1 Sam 28–31).......................................................................................276Chapter 10 Diachronic Dimension: From Past Texts to Present Text.................................................................................295Glossary.........................................................................................................................................340
Chapter One
The Overall Shape and Scope of 1-2 Samuel
The overall structuring of 1 Samuel alone is a task that wisely should not be attempted. It may be shortsighted to give an overall outline of pregnancy without reference to birth; it is imprudent to plan on earning ordinary income without thought of taxes; it is unwise to reflect on life without including death. 1-2 Samuel focuses on the figure of David. 1 Samuel speaks of the one after the Lord's own heart, who has been appointed to be ruler over Israel in place of Saul (13:14; cf. 15:28). The structural movement cannot end with the death of Saul. With the death of Saul, a page can be turned, a chapter ended; the book cannot be closed. So we are obliged to deal with 1-2 Samuel.
The books of Samuel (in Hebrew, the book of Samuel) move on two planes. At one level, events are unfolded in some form of chronological sequence. At another level, fundamental theological questions are raised by the text: in all the political turbulence associated with the names of Samuel, Saul, and David, what was God's role in the story of Israel? An attempt to conceptualize the structure of 1-2 Samuel needs to be aware of both these levels.
Any great work of literature, above all any attempt to enter into the mystery of God's dealings with humankind, is open to multiple understandings and susceptible of multiple interpretations. 1-2 Samuel is such a work. While the simple chronological sequences — from Samuel to Saul to David, from Shiloh to Jerusalem, and so on — are unlikely to invite challenge, the meaning to be derived from the texts and the reflection on the theological issues raised certainly invite multiple interpretation. It is not the place of this commentary to emphasize one interpretation of the texts as though it alone were right. It is the place of this commentary to propose at least one interpretation — as appropriate, as adequate and responsible.
Theological thinking in Israel was not divorced from the sequence of events in the life of the people. Israel's theology found its expression in the way that traditions about the sequence were formulated. Attention to detail is lavished on events that do not need such detail to be included in the sequence. Portrayals are shaped to provide an understanding that goes beyond the mere sequence. The text of 1-2 Samuel can be presented as follows.
The Beginnings of Stable Monarchy in Ancient Israel 1-2 Samuel
I. Preparations for David's emergence as king-to-be 1 Sam 1:1–16:13
A. Prophetic: arrival of Samuel on the national scene 1:1–4:1a
B. Liturgical: departure of the ark from the national scene 4:1b–7:1
C. Prophetic: emergence of monarchy 7:2–16:13
1. Arrival of Saul and the new institution of monarchy 7:2–12:25
2. Dismissal of Saul and beginning of David's arrival 13:1–16:13
II. Political moves to establish David as king 1 Sam 16:142 Sam 8:18 A. Tension between Saul as king and David as anointed Sam 16:14–31:13
1. David at the court of Saul 16:14–21:1 (NRSV, 20:42) 2. Open rupture between David and Saul 21:2 (NRSV, 21:1) –27:12 3. Ultimate failure of Saul 28:1–31:13
B. Civil war in Israel 2 Sam 1–4
C. Establishment of David as king: completion of David's arrival 2 Sam 5–8
1. Political establishment: arrival of David in Jerusalem 5:1-16 2. Security of the kingdom I: from the Philistines 5:17-25
3. Liturgical establishment: arrival of the ark in Jerusalem 6:1-23
4. Prophetic establishment: dynasty of David in Jerusalem 7:1-29
5. Security of the kingdom II: external relations generally 8:1-18
Appendix I: traditions associated with the following text 2 Sam 9–10
III. Stories of David's Middle Years: internal security threatened 2 Sam 11–20
A. David: the modeling of a king 11–12
B. The modeling within David's family 13–19
1. Internal impact: without threat to David's rule 1–14
2. External impact: with grave threat to...
